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Teen shot in Long Beach; police say it appears to be an accident

A Long Beach teenager was shot when a loaded gun accidentally discharged, officials said.

Officers responded to a call at 9:45 p.m. Sunday at the 3500 block of Cherry Avenue and found a 17-year-old boy with a gunshot wound in his body.

The gun was being handled by an adult in the house who was possibly performing maintenance on it, said spokeswoman Lisa Massacani of the Long Beach Police Department.

"It appears it was an accidental discharge," she said.

The teen was reportedly in stable condition at a hospital, Massacani said.

Massacani said the incident serves as a caution "that any time they’re handling a gun, to handle it with extreme caution. Whether it’s loaded or not, keep it pointed downward and away from any people to prevent accidents like this from occurring."